Buick Envision vs Kia Telluride

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, available in China and North America, positioned itself between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave in Buick’s lineup. The 2021 model was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a more premium crossover styling that gave it a planted appearance. The Envision’s sculpted look was more pronounced than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—offered distinct looks, with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir models featured upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels, and a unique interior trim pattern with leather-appointed seating.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Telluride continued to impress with its muscular design and balanced proportions. The Telluride’s exterior featured trendy blacked-out wheels and trim, with only minor changes to the grille pattern and new Kia badges for 2022. Available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, the Telluride’s pricing ranged from $32,790 to $44,590, with an additional destination charge. The interior of the Telluride was well-organized and upscale, though the lower half of the cabin had glossy plastic that looked cheap, especially in the SX Prestige trim. However, the Telluride made up for it with numerous new standard features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and advanced driving aids.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 2.5-liter base engine. This engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a downgrade from the 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque in the 2020 model. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision’s weight savings did not compensate for the power loss. The turbo-four engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided competent daily drivability. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The 2021 Envision’s fuel efficiency improved, with FWD models achieving 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while AWD models managed 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. However, the Envision’s acceleration and deceleration were noisy, and its drivability leaned more towards comfort than sportiness.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, offered a satisfying driving experience. The eight-speed automatic transmission and available AWD with Lock mode provided good traction, though the Telluride’s off-road capabilities were limited. The Telluride’s ride quality was smooth, with a brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system enhancing handling. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes. The Telluride’s fuel economy was decent, with AWD models achieving 21 mpg combined and FWD models reaching 23 mpg. The Telluride’s towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, making it a versatile choice for various driving conditions.

The 2021 Buick Envision’s redesign did not translate into a more functional cabin. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. The cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger’s access to controls, and forward visibility was poor. However, the Envision offered standard heated front seats, power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The 2022 Kia Telluride excelled in balancing form and function. Its interior was upscale and organized, with thoughtful details like overhead air vents, rear smartphone storage pouches, and USB ports in all three rows. The Telluride offered dual-zone automatic climate control for front-seat occupants and single-zone control for the rear. The SX Prestige package added premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner. All three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, and the Telluride provided ample storage space. The cargo area offered 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with all seats down. The Telluride’s folding seats and flat load floor made it easy to transport large items.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could use the available 8.0-inch driver information display to scroll through channels more efficiently. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, a surround-view camera, a head-up display, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Kia Telluride came with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. However, the Telluride lost the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, requiring a wire for these features. Kia Connect, a connected services platform, was standard and included features like 911 Connect, remote engine start, and home-to-car smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.

The 2022 Kia Telluride included numerous standard safety features under the Kia Drive Wise umbrella, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also had Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, Safe Exit Assist, and Blind-Spot View Monitor technology. The NHTSA awarded the Telluride a five-star overall rating, while the IIHS gave it a “Top Safety Pick” designation.